Pop Break Live: Styx, REO Speedwagon, Loverboy — ‘Live and UnZOOMED’ at The PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, New Jersey — Saturday August 20, 2022
Words & Photos by Willy Mellott
The sun beat down in Holmdel, New Jersey as concert goers filled the parking lots at PNC Bank Arts Center. Fans were tailgating, playing cornhole, and blasting music from their cars in anticipation of the co-headlining tour featuring REO Speedwagon and Styx.
Loverboy opened up the show as fans were filing into their seats and claiming their spots in the lawn. The Canadian rockers played a 45 minute set that had the fans up on their feet culminating with their hit song “Working for the Weekend.” As their set finished up the sun was setting over the lawn and REO Speedwagon was next up on the stage.
Loverboy Setlist (via setlist.fm):
Notorious
Lucky Ones
Queen of the Broken Hearts
The Kid Is Hot Tonite
Lovin’ Every Minute of It
Hot Girls in Love
Turn Me Loose
Working for the Weekend
In front of an elaborate backdrop filled with intricate lighting and their logo, REO Speedwagon took the stage. The crowd erupted as lead singer, Kevin Cronin, took the stage. After opening their set with “Don’t Let Him Go”, they went right into one of their more well known songs “Take It On the Run.” This got fans up out of their seats and singing along. Their set spanned a wide range of songs from their many albums over the years. Even though the music slowed down in tempo, the excitement of the crowd picked up as the quintet played “Can’t Fight This Feeling.” Wrapping up their set, REO Speedwagon played their Billboard hit song “Keep on Loving You” and closed with “Roll With The Changes.”
REO Speedwagon Setlist (via setlist.fm):
Don’t Let Him Go
Take It on the Run
Keep Pushin’
Live Every Moment
That Ain’t Love
Tough Guys
Can’t Fight This Feeling
Like You Do
Time for Me to Fly
Back on the Road Again
Ridin’ the Storm Out
Keep On Loving You
Roll With the Changes
Celebrating their 50th Anniversary as a band, Styx took the stage as cheers echoed under the dome at PNC Bank Arts Center. They started off with one of their newer songs, “The Fight of Our Lives” and the vocal harmonies were spine chilling. Next up was “Blue Collar Man (Long Nights)” which featured long-time guitarist Tommy Shaw on vocals. The pace slowed down as Lawrence Gowan on keyboard started off “Lady.”
Gowan was entertaining to watch all night as his keyboard was on a rotating platform. His high energy and great stage presence was matched across the stage with Shaw jumping around the stage and walking to the edge of the stage to play his guitar right at the edge with the fans. The hits kept coming and even included a cover of “Rocketman” before closing out their main set with the iconic song “Come Sail Away.”
Even though their main set was done, Styx wasn’t done just yet. Their encore started with the operatic “Mr. Roboto” and they ended the night, to the fans’ delight, with “Renegade”. Everyone was on their feet applauding as Styx joined hands and took their final bow sprinkling the crowd with handfuls of guitar picks. It was a great night in Holmdel featuring two iconic rock bands who have stood the test of time.
Setlist (via setlist.fm):
The Fight of Our Lives
Blue Collar Man (Long Nights)
The Grand Illusion
Lady
Crash of the Crown
Light Up
Sound the Alarm
Rockin’ the Paradise
Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man)
Too Much Time On My Hands
Khedive / Turn It On Again / Rocket Man / Lost At Sea
Come Sail Away
Encore:
Mr. Roboto
Renegade
